Cocktail Party 101

Well, it's all about the people!! Peter and I hosted a cocktail party last night and it was a success because of the wonderful people present. The guests of honor were a couple that Peter and I met in birthing class when I was pregnant with Merry over four years ago. They are embarking on a new venture and moving to Seattle. Bill was offered a job he could not refuse. Sarah is one of those people that everyone feels very fortunate to have met. She makes everyone feel very comfortable, she is very down to earth and accepting of all personalities. This family will be missed by many. As for the cocktails at the cocktail party, I had my share! I had a lot of fun and sure hope my guests did as well. Here is a list I found on the web that I used as a guide to plan for the party, underneath is my version, (a single mother of three, or at least until my husband is finished painting the house).

SUGGESTED
Two Weeks Before
* Buy your beer, wine, alcohol and mixers (preferably a quality mix like Schweppes)
One Week Before
* Buy all the main grocery items you’ll need except for fresh produce
* Clean the main part of the house
Two Days Before
* Any meat, poultry or pies can be prepared and cooked today and refrigerated. Do not add any sauces, gravies, or citrus to your foods until you serve them.
* Crudités and dips can be prepared today and stored in the fridge.
* Put your basket with the parting gifts, by the door
* Create a coat check. Use a guest bedroom or rent a coat rack. Clear an area away from the front door for winter boots.
One Day Before
* Pick up the ice (about 1/2 lb per person)
* Have all the rental items delivered and set up your holiday table with linens, cutlery, plates etc; if needed, arrange your furniture in the main party area.
* Have the florist deliver fresh flowers today, or buy fresh flowers in the evening and arrange them in vases in key spots throughout your home.
* If you’ve hired a barman, put everything he’s going to need in one spot and he’ll set it up the way he wants to.
* If you’re setting up a self-serve bar, put your alcohol, 2 bottles of wine, corkscrew, citrus, and a handful of highball and wine glasses, on your table. Make sure the mix and the rest of the glasses are easily visible, and accessible. Put your beer in the fridge.
* Salads or vegetables can be prepared, or cooked today and stored in large baggies. (Baggies take up less room in a fridge, than plastic containers). Do not add salad dressing to fresh produce until serving time. Other salads like bean, macaroni, rice, and potato can be ‘dressed’ the day before.
* Any seafood dishes can and should be prepared the night before. You don’t want your home smelling like ‘shrimps’ when your guests walk in. Again, store your seafood in baggies, until serving time. If you're serving whole fish, wrap carefully in foil or plastic wrap and store in the fridge.


MY VERSION
Week of:
Realize you will not have time to make food, freak out, call and order all food to be picked up day of party.

Day Before:
Buy alcohol and set up bar & hordeuvres station
Clean House

Day Of:
7:30 Wake Up.
Nurse the baby
Feed kids breakfast
Clean from Breakfast
Get kids dressed

9:30 Nurse baby again and put down for nap
Put kids in front of TV so I can
Shower, do my hair & makeup (have to get in done early)
Get Dressed & wait for baby to wake from nap

11:00 Nurse baby
Pack a lunch and bring kids to park (run them hard so they will be a sleep by the time the guests arrive)

2:30 Nurse baby and put down for nap
Make Grampy take the 4 year old for a few hours
Mom and 2.5 year old go get ice, flowers, cheese & crackers

5:00 Make husband stop painting & take a shower
Arrange Flowers

5:30 Have husband pick up hordeuvres
Wake up baby & Nurse him

6:00 Feed baby and 2.5 year old
Clean from dinner and make sure house is perfect

6:30 Put kids pajamas on

6:45 Clean upstairs bathroom & get dressed

7:00 Have husband put 2.5 year old to bed
Nurse baby

7:15 Four year old shows up with pajamas on but not fed
Heat food

7:30 Put food out
Guests Arrive!!
Put Chicken fingers in oven for 4 year old

7:45 Have husband put baby to bed & set up a kids movie for the four year old upstairs in our bed

Suck down a glass of wine & Enjoy Great Company

My Reunion

Wow, I did not know I missed David as much as I did! When I saw him at the airport I was overcome with emotion. Peter was holding David and my mother was walking along side of them , and I swear the only face I saw was Davids'. I could not hold him fast enough or tight enough. I was then very happy to see my handsome husband and loving mother. I was even more happy to have my whole family together again, and be able to know we were all just beginning to enjoy a week of fun in the sun together. It was so cute, after about 10 minutes of Davey in my arms, he finally looks down at Meredith (his big sister) and says, "Merry!," and then notices Thomas (his little brother). To say the least, it was a great way to start our family vacation. We had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect everyday and we got to play and rest. I can not wait to go back.